Human Rights Friendly Schools Newsletter Oct-Nov 2013
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Human Rights Friendly Schools NEWS October-November 2013 th Happy 5 year anniversary to all! Dear Friends, This is a very special issue of the Human Rights Friendly Schools Newsletter as we are celebrating the 5 th year anniversary of Human Rights Friendly Schools! In 2008, we had the idea of adopting a new approach to human rights education: supporting the holistic integration of human rights into schools around the world. Five years later, this idea has become a reality: 92 schools, 5,000 teachers and 84,000 young people in 20 countries are now involved in Human Rights Friendly Schools. This expansion is the direct result of the adaptability of the project to a wide range of local contexts. Together we have successfully tested a model of human rights education that is both locally relevant and beneficial to schools around the world! In this issue, we are focusing on the achievements of Human Rights Friendly Schools in Mongolia, which has reached 6,000 young people in the past 5 years! For more information , please visit our website: http://www.amnesty.org/en/human-rights-education/projects-initiatives/rfsp or contact us at [email protected] About the Human Rights Friendly Schools Newsletter Amnesty International’s Human Rights Friendly Schools project aims to empower young people and promote the active participation of all members of the school community to integrate human rights values and principles into all areas of school life. Amnesty International works in partnership with secondary schools around the world, supporting their journey to becoming Human Rights Friendly. This newsletter aims to share information, ideas and experiences across the International Human Rights Friendly Schools Network. More newsletters available online in English, French and Spanish 2013 2012 http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/POL32/008/2013/en http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/POL32/015/2012/en http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/POL32/006/2013/en http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/POL32/014/2012/en http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/POL32/004/2013/en http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/POL32/013/2012/en http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/POL32/003/2013/en http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/POL32/012/2012/en http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/POL32/002/2013/en http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/POL32/011/2012/en AI Index Number: POL 32/010/2013 1 Human Rights Friendly Schools Newsletter October-November 2013 AI Index Number: POL 32/010/2013 NEWS OF THE MONTH Five years of Human Rights Friendly Schools in Mongolia From 2009 with one school partner, Mongolia-India Joint Secondary School in Ulaanbaatar, Amnesty International Mongolia has been playing a leading role in the area of human rights education in Mongolia. By the end of the pilot phase in 2011, the Human Rights Friendly School approach had expanded to two new schools in Edernet and Darkhan project’s Provinces; and in 2014 will continue to expand to eight more schools in Ulaanbaatar city. Celebrating five years of project implementation in Mongolia, the successes of Human Rights Friendly Schools can be summarised as follows: ° Increased knowledge about human rights and better community cohesion as a result of increased participation in activities and interest in different human rights issues among students and the integration of new and interactive methodologies in curricular and extracurricular activities. ° Increased youth activism and engagement as 30% of Amnesty International Mongolia members are graduates from Human Rights Friendly Schools. Amnesty International Mongolia can count on a very active younger generation of activists that have a deep understanding of human rights issues and are empowered to take action. ° Promoting human rights education by Students at the Human Rights Friendly School - Mongolia-India Secondary School - raise adopting a bottom-up and holistic approach their hands for human rights, Mongolia, 2013 © Amnesty International to integrating human rights education in secondary schools in Mongolia. Amnesty International Mongolia is now recognised by “There are already some initiatives and good practices on the educational authorities as an expert in integrating human rights in the curriculum in Mongolia, for integrating human rights in schools. This example Amnesty International Mongolia is leading on this” recognition led to the expansion of the Human Rights Friendly Schools approach to Mr. Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, President of Mongolia, after his first election in 2009 presented Amnesty International resources on national TV to encourage the government to integrate eight more public schools with the support human rights in the curriculum and work closely with non-governmental organizations. of the municipality of Ulaanbaatar. For more information, contact Ganchimeg Sodnomdoo, Human Rights Friendly Schools Coordinator at Amnesty International Mongolia: [email protected] AI Index Number: POL 32/010/2013 2 Human Rights Friendly Schools Newsletter October-November 2013 STORY OF CHANGE Students from Mongolia Human Rights Friendly Schools share their experience TIM , a former student of Mongolia-India Joint School and now a University student, looks back at the evolution of his school since the project began and the personal impact it has had on his life. “At the beginning of the Human Rights Friendly School Project, I had no knowledge of human rights or Amnesty International. I think with the project, students of my class became extremely involved and concerned about human rights issues in the world. It made me very active and still now I am always trying to take part in activities related to defending against human rights violations. I think the project has changed my way of viewing things and showed me how Tim, former Mongolia-India Joint Secondary Student. to be loud against human rights violations . We were definitively more aware of Mongolia, 2013 ©Amnesty International human rights violations, especially in Mongolia. Compared to different schools and also with what I see at University, students “Your rights are limited by from Mongolia-India Joint Secondary School are more educated and they your nose! It means that you respect each other much more. I can see the difference between a normal can say to others that you situation and activities that are not ‘human rights friendly’. Teachers explained to us that one person’s rights are limited by someone else’s rights. Your rights think what they are doing is are limited by your nose! It means that you can say to others that you think what affecting your rights.” they are doing is affecting your rights. People need to be more aware. Not only thinking about human rights but most importantly in taking actions. Respecting Tim, former Mongolia-India Joint Secondary School student human rights starts with the simplest things.” “Students used to be bullied Auygarb , from Erdenet Bayan-Undur School in Mongolia, shares “when I a lot and teachers did not pay first joined the school, the project was already being implemented. I heard about it through teachers. I thought it was a good idea because I think young people much attention to that should be able to defend themselves and be protected. before. Now teachers are Ever since I was a kid, I had some understanding of what human rights were more concerned about through elementary school and through my parents and my older sister. I think students’ well being.” we are generally happier and friendlier with each other . Students used to be bullied a lot and teachers did not pay much attention to that before. Now Auygarb, Erdenet Bayan-Undur teachers are more concerned about students’ well being. In my opinion, it is School student really important for the students to have a connection with their teachers as each of us should be able to rely on adults and not everyone can do that outside of school.” AI Index Number: POL 32/010/2013 3 Human Rights Friendly Schools Newsletter October-November 2013 FROM THE TEACHERS’ CORNER Teachers at the Mongolia-India Joint Secondary School are very engaged in finding ways to integrate human rights in their daily lessons. They find that students are more active and participative when adopting the Human Rights Friendly School approach. Mrs. Gantigmaa, an English teacher at the school, reflects on how the project has impacted the school community, admitting that “the Human Rights Friendly Schools approach is one of my favourite things. I have always been very involved in social life. Since we started the project, a lot of our students have seen their lives change and their attitudes as well, how they view social life and social background. There are lots of success stories in the school. For example, students have become closer to each other, and more responsible. Teachers with experience have also become participatory trainers themselves, improving our methodology and making education Mrs. Gantigmaa, English teacher at the Mongolia-India Secondary School. more practical.” Mongolia, 2013 ©Amnesty International “This project contributed to my career and teaching skills, and teaching experience. My teaching methodology has completely changed. Before this project I used to focus only on grammar and text book exercises. Now, I try to link social issues to my English classes. For example I focus more on life experiences and life examples in my teaching.” Mrs. Gantigmaa, English teacher at the Mongolia-India Secondary School Students in Mrs. Gantigmaa’s class participating in a Before-After activity to asses how school life has changed since integrating the Human Rights Friendly approach. Mongolia-India Joint Secondary School, Mongolia, 2013 ©Amnesty International AI Index Number: POL 32/010/2013 4 Human Rights Friendly Schools Newsletter October-November 2013 HIGHLIGHTS FROM ERDENET BAYAN-UNDUR HIGH SCHOOL A Human Rights Friendly School promotes an atmosphere of equality, non-discrimination, participation, inclusion and respect.